American Standard Version
Job 32:9
9It is not the great that are wise,Nor the aged that understand justice.
Job 32:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
- New International Version (NIV)It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.
- English Standard Version (ESV)It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Great men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice.
Context of Job 32:9
7I said, Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom. 8But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding. It is not the great that are wise, Nor the aged that understand justice. 10Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will show mine opinion. 11Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your reasonings, Whilst ye searched out what to say.
Read all of Job 32Job 32:9 word by word
לֹֽא־רַבִּ֥ים יֶחְכָּ֑מוּ וּ֝זְקֵנִ֗ים יָבִ֥ינוּ מִשְׁפָּֽט׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Job 32:9
- Jeremiah 5:5I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they know the way of Jehovah, and the law of their God. But these with one accord have broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.
- Matthew 11:25At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes:
- John 7:48Hath any of the rulers believed on him, or of the Pharisees?
- 1 Corinthians 1:26For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
- 1 Corinthians 2:7but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory:
- James 2:6But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?
- Job 12:20He removeth the speech of the trusty, And taketh away the understanding of the elders.
- Ecclesiastes 4:13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
Commentaries on Job 32:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Great men are not always wise - This is a true saying, which the experience of every age and every country increasingly verifies. And it is most certain that, in the case before us, the aged did not understand judgment; they had a great many wise and good sayings, which they had collected, but showed neither wisdom nor discretion in applying them.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Great men are not always wise - Though wisdom may in general be looked for in them, yet it is not universally true. Great men here denote those who are distinguished for rank, age, authority. Neither do the aged understand judgment - That is, they do not always understand it. The word judgment here means right, truth. They do not always understand what is the exact truth in regard to the divine administration. This is an apology for what he was about to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-14Verses 6-14 Elihu professes to speak by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and corrects both parties. He allowed that those who had the longest experience should speak first. But God gives wisdom as he pleases; this encouraged him to state his opinion. By attention to the word of God, and dependence upon the Holy Spirit, young men may become wiser than the aged; but this wisdom will render them swift to hear, slow to speak, and disposed to give others a…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9The spirit in a man might not be God's Spirit of prophecy that Elihu later mentions, as Eliphaz had done (33:14–15; 4:12–17; compare 32:18–20). This spirit might simply exist because of creation (33:4; Genesis 2:7; Acts 17:25).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Great--rather, "old" (Job 32:6). So Hebrew, in Ge 25:23. "Greater, less" for the older, the younger. judgment--what is right.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 32:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 32
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries